View source for Athea

{{short description|Village in County Limerick, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Irish English|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Athea
| native_name            = {{lang|ga|Áth an tSléibhe}}
| native_name_lang       = ga
| settlement_type        = Village
| image_skyline          = Welcome to Athea.jpg
| image_caption          = Welcome (fáilte) sign in Athea
| pushpin_map            = Ireland
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Ireland
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Munster]]
| subdivision_type3      = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
| subdivision_name3      = [[County Limerick]]
| established_title      = 
| established_date       = 
| unit_pref              = Metric
| area_footnotes         = 
| area_total_km2         = 
| population_as_of       = 2022
| population_footnotes   = <ref name="census2022">{{cite web|url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=fa081933-7515-4251-bfb0-f11207213aa9| publisher = Central Statistics Office | website = visual.cso.ie | title = Census Interactive Map – Towns: Athea – Population Snapshot | date = April 2022 | accessdate = 14 June 2025 }}</ref>
| population             = 418
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone1              = [[West European Time|WET]]
| utc_offset1            = +0
| timezone1_DST          = [[Irish Standard Time|IST]] ([[Western European Summer Time|WEST]])
| utc_offset1_DST        = -1
| coordinates            = {{coord|52.460926|-9.289327|dim:100000_region:IE|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes    = 
| elevation_m            = 
| blank_name             = [[Irish grid reference]]
| blank_info             = {{iem4ibx|R124351}}
| website                = 
| footnotes              = 
}}

'''Athea''' ({{IPAc-en|ae|'|t|ei}} {{respell|a|TAY}};<ref>Wolfe, B. (2019:40). ''Wolfe's History: A Family Story''. United States: Brendan Wolfe.</ref> {{Irish place name|Áth an tSléibhe}} or ''Áth Té'')<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.logainm.ie/31785.aspx | publisher = Placenames Database of Ireland | website = logainm.ie | title = Áth an tSléibhe / Athea | accessdate = 23 January 2021 }}</ref> is a village in west [[County Limerick]], Ireland. Athea has a [[Roman Catholic]] church, and is the centre for the parish of Athea, which encompasses several nearby townlands. As of the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]], the village of Athea had a population of 418 people.<ref name="census2022" /> The [[R523 road (Ireland)|R523]] and R524 regional roads meet at a junction within the village.

== Geography ==
[[File:Galey River, Athea, Co. Limerick (geograph 3469400).jpg|thumb|River Galey as seen from the John Paul II footbridge in Athea's village centre]]

=== Topography ===
The river Galey is a tributary to the larger [[River Feale]]. The name is derived from the [[Irish language]] ''"Abhainn na Gáile"'', River of the Gaille, a tribe who lived along its banks. There are two bridges across the river; the R523/R524 intersection bridge just east of the village and ''Barry's Bridge'', 2&nbsp;km northwest of the village. Athea has suffered damage and disruption over several years, when the River Galley flooded in 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.limerick.ie/council/services/water-and-drainage/flooding-related-schemes-and-assistance/athea-flood-relief | publisher = Limerick County Council | website = limerick.ie | title = Athea Flood Relief Scheme | accessdate = 24 January 2021 }}</ref> Proposals and funding to address the issue had been muted for several years,<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/319895/380-000-flood-prevention-plan-for-athea-outlined-to-councillors.html | publisher = Limerick Leader | website = limerickleader.ie | title = €380,000 flood prevention plan for Athea outlined to councillors | date = 24 June 2018 | accessdate = 24 January 2021 }}</ref> and a civil engineering consultancy were appointed by [[Limerick County Council]] in October 2019 to "assess, develop and design" a flood relief scheme.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.limerick.ie/sites/default/files/media/documents/2020-06/athea-frs-newsletter-no1-june-2020.pdf | publisher = Limerick County Council | title = Athea Flood Relief Scheme – Newsletter – June 2020 | accessdate = 24 January 2021 }}</ref>

=== Electoral division ===
Athea has been in the [[Dáil constituency]] of [[Limerick County (Dáil constituency)|Limerick County]] since 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dáil Constituency Map Limerick City and Limerick County 2024 |url=https://gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/d%C3%A1il-constituency-map-limerick-city-and-limerick-county-2024/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=gov.ie |language=en}}</ref> It is within the [[Newcastlewest]] electoral area which are used mainly in local elections. At European level, Athea is in the constituency of Ireland South.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Parliament elections |url=https://www.electoralcommission.ie/european-parliament-elections/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Electoral Commission |language=en}}{{fv|reason=Where is Athea, or its location within the Ireland South constituency, mentioned anywhere on this webpage? |date=August 2025}}</ref>

== History ==
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of [[ringfort]] and [[holy well]] sites in the [[townland]]s of Athea Upper, Templeathea and Gortnagross.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Ó Danachair | first = C. | date = 1955 | title = The Holy Wells of County Limerick | journal = Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland | issue = 85 | pages = 193–217 }}</ref><ref>{{citation | title = Record of Monuments and Places – County Limerick | date = 1997 | publisher = National Monuments and Historic Properties Service}}</ref> There is a [[Mass rock]] to the east of the village.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.limerick.ie/discover/eat-see-do/sports-recreation/activities/walking/county-limerick-trails/athea-sli-na | publisher = Limerick City and County Council | website = limerick.ie | title = Athea Slí na Sláinte Walking Route | accessdate = 21 June 2025 }}</ref> The Catholic church in Athea, Saint Bartholomew's church, was built in 1832.<ref name="niahChurch">{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21834003/saint-bartholomews-catholic-church-con-colbert-street-ballymahon-athea-limerick | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | title = Saint Bartholomew's Catholic Church, Con Colbert Street, Ballymahon, Athea, Limerick | accessdate = 21 June 2025 }}</ref>

An ancient [[sliotar]] ([[hurling]] ball) was found in a bog and acquired by the National Museum in 1954. One of three such sliotars found in West Limerick, estimates suggest that the Athea ball dates to at least the 17th century.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/community/110228/Ancient-Limerick-hurling-ball-has-its.html | work = Limerick Leader | title = Ancient Limerick hurling ball has its guts checked in CT scan | date = 6 October 2013 | accessdate = 15 August 2025 }}</ref>

A replica of a forge, formerly located in Athea, has been built in Bunratty Folk Park in County Clare.
<ref>{{cite web | title=Ahern's Forge, Athea, Limerick, Ireland | website=ancestralline.com | url=https://ancestralline.com/aherns-forge-in-athea.php }}</ref>

== Built heritage ==

=== Con Colbert Memorial Hall ===
[[File:Memorial hall.jpg|thumb|Memorial hall]]
[[File:Con Colbert hall.jpg|thumb|Con Colbert hall]]
Opened in January 1974 by [[Erskine Hamilton Childers]], [[Con Colbert]] Memorial Hall is named after one of the executed leaders of the 1916 [[Easter Rising]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://limerickdioceseheritage.org/Athea/pplAthea.htm | publisher = Diocese of Limerick Heritage Project | website = limerickdioceseheritage.org | title = Famous People in Athea |accessdate = 24 January 2021 }}</ref>

[[File:Con Colbert bust.jpg|thumb|upright|Con Colbert bust]]
There is also a plaque and a bronze bust of Con Colbert in the grounds of the hall. Both were unveiled, by members of Colbert's extended family, in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aherne |first=Tom |date=2021-05-27 |title=Then and Now: The short life of Con Colbert celebrated in song and verse |url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/then---now---tom-aherne/636035/then-and-now-the-short-life-of-con-colbert-celebrated-in-song-and-verse.html |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=www.limerickleader.ie |language=en}}</ref>

=== John Paul II Footbridge ===
[[File:Athea footbridge.jpg|thumb|Athea footbridge]]
Athea's only pedestrian bridge was opened by Donal Murray, Bishop of Limerick, in 2005. The bridge is located next to the existing road bridge at the eastern end of the main street.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.lcc.ie/NR/rdonlyres/30B70CF0-AC68-474A-831A-D13B242B18AE/0/MicrosoftWordDraftVDS_Pages113_231106.pdf | publisher = Limerick County Council | website = lcc.ie | title = Athea Village Design Statement – Draft | date = November 2006 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071023163740/http://www.lcc.ie/NR/rdonlyres/30B70CF0-AC68-474A-831A-D13B242B18AE/0/MicrosoftWordDraftVDS_Pages113_231106.pdf | archivedate = 23 October 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Athea Bridge, Athea, Limerick |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21834011/athea-bridge-athea-limerick |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Buildings of Ireland |language=en-IE}}</ref> It had been proposed for years for the local school pupils who were crossing the busy road bridge and was seen as a health and safety hazard sharing the bridge with cars. The bridge is 2&nbsp;m wide and 11&nbsp;m long.{{fact|date=August 2025}}

=== St. Bartholomew's Church ===
[[File:Athea church.jpg|thumb|Athea church]]
St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic Church is located on the main street and was built in 1832.<ref name="niahChurch" /> It underwent renovations in 1862 and 1980s.
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Bartholomew's Church, Athea, Limerick - Con Colbert Street, Athea, Co. Limerick, Ireland |url=https://www.churchservices.tv/athea |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=ChurchServices.tv live mass and services from Churches in the UK and Ireland |language=en-US}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Limerick Diocesan Heritage Project - Athea Parish |url=https://www.limerickdioceseheritage.org/Athea/textAthea.htm |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=www.limerickdioceseheritage.org}}</ref>

=== Athea Carnegie Library ===
Athea's [[Carnegie library]] is one of the best-preserved Carnegie library's in Ireland and was featured on a postal stamp released to mark the centenary of the death of Andrew Carnegie.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prendiville |first=Norma |date=2019-08-23 |title=Limerick village 'stamps' its mark on commemorative initiative |url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/472898/limerick-village-stamps-its-markon-commemorative-initiative.html |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=www.limerickleader.ie |language=en}}</ref> It was built in 1917 to designs by [[Richard Orpen|Richard Caulfield Orpen]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21834008/athea-carnegie-library-barrack-street-gortnagross-athea-co-limerick | website = buildingsofireland.ie | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | title = Athea Carnegie Library, Barrack Street, Athea, Limerick | accessdate = 21 June 2025 }}</ref> It is no longer used as a library, but was renovated to be a public-use community space.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fitzgibbon |first=Gerard |date=2013-04-14 |title=Athea library plans given green light |url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/community/133084/Athea-library-plans-given-green-light.html |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=www.limerickleader.ie |language=en}}</ref>

=== Goold monument===
[[File:Gould monument.jpg|thumb|upright|Goold monument]]
A monument, located in Upper Athea, commemorates James Goold. Goold was a landlord who, at the time of the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]], refused to evict tenants who couldn't pay rent. Dated to 1863, the monument comprises a 4&nbsp;m high [[Celtic cross]] which stands just off the road to [[Listowel]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21834001/goold-monument-athea-upper-athea-limerick | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title =Goold Monument, Athea Upper, Athea, Limerick | accessdate = 24 January 2021 }}</ref>

==="The feet"===
Another statue, colloquially called "the feet", is a monument in The Square commemorating two Irish olympic medalists who were originally from Athea – [[Tim Ahearne]] and [[Dan Ahearn]]e. Tim Ahearne won gold in the triple jump in the 1908 Olympics, while his younger brother Dan Ahearne is known for setting a world record in 1909. The sculpture depicts two golden feet with wings spread out.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/news/famous-sons-of-athea-to-be-commemorated-27377449.html| publisher = Independent News & Media | website = independent.ie | title = Famous sons of Athea to be commemorated | date = 7 August 2008 | accessdate = 29 October 2019 }}</ref>

== Culture ==

=== Events ===
Annually large events such as the Vintage Rally, TradFéile and Athea Motorcycle Road Races are held during summer months.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Regan |first=Donal |date=2025-02-27 |title=Athea Road Races aim for September 2025 return in Limerick |url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/motoring-news/1739494/athea-road-races-aim-for-september-2025-return-in-limerick.html |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=www.limerickleader.ie |language=en}}</ref>

Athea Motorcycle Road Races, is a two-day event taking place on a Saturday and Sunday at the end of June. Previous editions of the annual event have attracted approximately 10,000 visitors to the village.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fitzgibbon |first=Gerard |date=2013-08-25 |title=Athea races 'not dead' despite continued absence, organiser insists |url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/arts-entertainment/89992/Athea-races--not-dead-.html |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=www.limerickleader.ie |language=en}}</ref> Racers such as Martin Finnegan and William Dunlop have taken part in past events.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-12-18 |title=Road racing, an Irish phenomenon {{!}} MAG Ireland |url=https://www.magireland.org/2012/news-media/road-racing-an-irish-phenomenon/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |language=en}}</ref> A fun fair is usually brought to the village the week before the festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.athearoadrace.com/ |title=Athea Road Races |accessdate=2009-03-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403074059/http://www.athearoadrace.com/ |archivedate=2009-04-03 }}</ref>

=== Parklands ===
The "Giant's Garden" is a walk from the Memorial Hall to Holy Cross Cemetery in Templeathea. It is named after a legend that incorporates a giant carrying his deceased mother on his shoulders to be buried. The garden overlooks Athea as well as the hills and river southwest of the village.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About – Welcome to Athea, 'the Giant's Village' |url=https://www.athea.ie/about/ |access-date=2021-08-03|language=en}}</ref>

== Sport ==

=== Gaelic games ===
[[File:Athea GAA clubhouse.jpg|thumb|Athea GAA clubhouse]]
Athea GAA (''Áth an tSléibhe CLG'') is the local [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://athea.limerick.gaa.ie/ |title=Athea G.A.A. Football Club Home Page |accessdate=2009-03-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719115643/http://athea.limerick.gaa.ie/ |archivedate=2008-07-19 }}</ref> The club's colours are maroon and white and its grounds are located in Templeathea to the east of the village.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foireann - Athea |url=https://www.foireann.ie/organization/limerick-athea |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=foireann.ie |language=en}}</ref> Codes played include [[Gaelic football]], [[hurling]] and [[ladies' Gaelic football]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Athea – Ladies Football |url=https://www.finalwhistle.ie/ladiesfootball/team/limerick/athea/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=www.finalwhistle.ie}}</ref>

=== Soccer ===
The local [[association football]] (soccer) club, Athea United AFC, is located on the Glin road out of Athea. It was first established in 1979 and is an affiliated member of the [[Limerick Desmond League]] and the [[Football Association of Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Athea Utd |url=https://limerickdesmondsbgl.com/clubs/athea-utd/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Limerick Desmond Schoolboy/girls League |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Basketball ===
[[File:Athea sports hall.jpg|thumb|Athea sports hall]]
Vixens Basketball Club play their home games in the sports hall in the village.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerry Basketball |url=https://kerrybasketball.ie/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |language=en-IE}}{{fv|reason=Where is the club (and its use of the village sports hall) mentioned on this website?|date=August 2025}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
At the time of the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]], the population of the village was 418.<ref name="census2022" /> Approximately 90% of the population were born in Ireland, with 5% born in the UK, 1% in Poland, and the remainder from elsewhere in the world.<ref name="census2022" /> 89% of census respondents in Athea listed their religion as [[Catholic]], 7% other stated religions and 4% had either had no religion or no stated religion.<ref name="census2022" />

== Education ==
The primary school – Athea National School (Athea NS) – was built in 1921. Prior to this, a small thatched schoolhouse was located centrally in the village (now no longer in use). Athea NS is located in Templeathea townland, just east of the village centre. When opened in 1921, it had a capacity of 100 students. A large extension to the school was officially opened in 2009 and,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.limerickleader.ie/west-limerick/Athea-school-extension-to-be.5089182.jp | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20130217212509/http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/leader-local/athea-school-extension-to-be-blessed-by-bishop-1-2187849 | archivedate = 17 February 2013 | title = Athea school extension to be blessed by Bishop | website = limerickleader.ie | date = 19 March 2009 | access-date = 29 March 2009 | url-status = live }}</ref> as of 2025, the school had an enrollment of 161 pupils.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/schools/athea-n-school/ | publisher = Department of Education | via = gov.ie | title = School - Athea N School | date = 9 July 2025 | accessdate = 15 August 2025}}</ref>

== Transport ==
A [[Limerick]]-[[Tralee]] bus service operates via Athea every Wednesday. 

A [[TFI Local Link]] service, route R61, also passes through Athea enroute from Moyvane to Listowel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kerry |first=Local Link |title=Athea |url=https://www.locallinkkerry.ie/athea/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Local Link Kerry |language=en-IE}}</ref>

The closest train stations to Athea are [[Limerick Colbert railway station]] in Limerick city and [[Charleville railway station]] in [[County Cork]].{{fact|date=June 2025}}

== Notable people ==

*[[Tim Ahearne]] and [[Dan Ahearn]] were brothers who competed in the 1908 and 1920 Olympics respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.limerickpost.ie/2020/04/08/the-athea-brothers-who-took-on-the-world-and-won/| publisher = Limerick Post | website = limerickpost.ie | title = The Athea Brothers who took on the world and won | first = Ronan | last = Coughlan | date = 8 April 2020 | accessdate = 25 August 2022 }}</ref>
*[[Kit Ahern]], Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD)<ref>{{citation | url = https://www.dib.ie/biography/ahern-catherine-ita-kit-a9624 | work = [[Dictionary of Irish Biography]] | first = Linde | last = Lunney | title = Ahern, Catherine Ita ('Kit') | date = June 2014 | accessdate = 16 August 2025 | doi = 10.3318/dib.009624.v1 | doi-access = free }}</ref>
*[[Con Colbert]], the youngest man to be executed by the British after the [[Easter Rising]] in 1916, lived on his family's farm in Athea.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-1916/1916irl/cpr/coem/cc/ | publisher = Central Statistics Office | website = cso.ie | title = Life in 1916 Ireland: Stories from statistics – Con Colbert | accessdate = 25 August 2022 }}</ref>
*[[Michael Colbert]], Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colbert family |url=https://www.youwho.ie/colbert.html |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=YouWho.ie |language=en}}{{better source|reason=This appears to be a self-published genealogical source.|date=August 2025}}</ref>
*[[Kevin Danaher]], folklorist and historian, was born in Athea.<ref name="Lysaght">{{cite journal | last = Lysaght | first = Patricia| url = https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0015587022000015356 | title = Kevin Danaher (Caoimhin O Danachair), 1913-2002 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060514134950/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2386/is_2_113/ai_95107640 |archivedate=14 May 2006 | journal = Folklore | volume = 113 | issue = 2 | date = October 2002| pages = 261–264| doi = 10.1080/0015587022000015356| s2cid = 162196468| url-access = subscription }}</ref> His early education was at Athea National School and Mungret College, County Limerick.<ref name="Gailey">Gailey, Alan, and Lynch, Chris. "Obituary", ''Folk Life'', Summer 2002</ref>
*[[Con Greaney]], a traditional singer from nearby Rooska,<ref name="podcast">{{cite podcast |host= |date= 17 March 2021 |title= My Trousers Turned Back - Con Sings On |url= https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/shirley-n355-r355ag341in/episodes/My-Trousers-Turned-Back---Con-Sings-On----The-life-and-songs-of-Con-Greaney-esln1v/a-a4un9rv |work= Gaeilge Bhriste | via = spotify.com |time=04:10, 05:00, 05:38 |time-caption=Discussed at |access-date=16 August 2025 }}</ref> who sang ''The Road To Athea''<ref name=autogenerated1>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cic.ie/product.asp?idProduct=757 |title=The Road to Athea - Con Greaney<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403053025/http://www.cic.ie/product.asp?idProduct=757 |archive-date=2008-04-03 |url-status=dead | website = cic.ie | publisher = Cló Iar-Chonnacht Teo }}</ref>
*[[Lisa Murtagh]], whose mother is an Athea native, was crowned 48th [[Rose of Tralee (festival)|Rose of Tralee]]. She represented New York, but acknowledged Athea as her "second home" in her speech at the pageant in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://roseoftralee.ie/catalog/ |title=Official website of one of Ireland's biggest festivals, the Rose of Tralee |accessdate=2009-03-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329000103/http://roseoftralee.ie/catalog/ |archivedate=2009-03-29 }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.athea.ie/  Athea & District News]

{{County Limerick}}
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Limerick}}

[[Category:Towns and villages in County Limerick]]